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Purpose: The pandemic brought by COVID-19 in March 2020 shook the entire world, compelling everyone to remain indoors. Most B-Schools were unprepared for such a situation and did not have the resources to carry out the teaching and learning activities. B-schools then adopted online and hybrid modes of learning to impart education to their students. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting the quality of education along with lessons learnt and lessons to be left behind, using qualitative method. Design/methodology/approach: The factors affecting the quality of education were drawn from the literature, and 18 faculty members were interviewed. The study uses a descriptive method, where interviews were conducted, and each interview was recorded, with an explicit permission of respective faculty member and coded and categorized to identify themes. Findings: The significant contribution of this study is that it highlights? Through the learnings and experiences of the pandemic? What will work in the future for business schools. The use of online teaching-learning sessions and softwares, namely, Turnitin and Grammarly will not fade away. Faculty will use various engagement tools such as quizzes and simulations to improve the learning and quality of education in the post-pandemic era. Various interactive and online tools emerged during the pandemic which allowed faculty to use diagrams and infographics in their teaching, and this helped the faculty to cater to students with different learning styles. Originality/value: This study will provide B-Schools, faculties and leaders an input for improving the quality of online education. The present study provides an empirical contribution to the factors affecting online education and its quality, by highlighting the perspective of faculty members with the help of qualitative study. These factors make a clear and strong indication that education in the future will be partly online, wherein a lot of e-learning resources will be used by faculty to impart quality education.

This study examined perceived needs, well-being, work/nonwork conflict and demands, and coping mechanisms among government and private schoolteachers in India while working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. We employed a mixed method design, collecting 161 quantitative responses using questionnaires and 121 qualitative responses using open-ended questions. These were analyzed using inferential statistics and thematic analysis, respectively. Results highlight the negative impact of work/nonwork conflict on well-being. The missing work-home boundaries resulted in extended work hours, unorganized routines, and simultaneous work/nonwork demands. We describe the multifaceted nature of operational, pedagogical, and technological challenges faced by schoolteachers. We suggest psychological and operational resources and support mechanisms that can be developed at the family, school administration, and policy levels. Further, customized bundles of solutions are needed to address the variability in the challenges faced.

Introduction: Existing evidence suggests a lower uptake of cervical cancer screening among Indian women. Coverage is lower in rural than urban women, but such disparities are less explored. So, the present study was conducted to explore the self-reported coverage of cervical cancer screening in urban and rural areas stratified by socio-demographic characteristics, determine the spatial patterns and identify any regional variations, ascertain the factors contributing to urban-rural disparities and those influencing the likelihood of screening among women aged 30–49 years factors residing in urban, rural, and overall Indian settings. Methods: We did a secondary analysis of the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey in India (2019-21) data with a sample size of 3,48,882 women. The coverage of cervical cancer screening was estimated using sampling weights. Urban-rural differences were compared using the chi-square test. Spatial patterns were analysed using aggregated district-level data, and the contribution of different independent variables to the urban-rural disparities was estimated using multivariate decomposition analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted using STATA 17 to obtain the significant factors of reported screening in urban and rural areas. Results: The nationwide coverage of cervical cancer screening was 2.0% (95% CI: 1.9-2.0). The urban (2.4%; 2.3–2.5) participants had higher screening coverage than their rural (1.8%; 1.7–1.8) counterparts. Moran's I statistic confirmed the presence of spatial dependence and geographical gradient. Decomposition analysis depicted small urban-rural differences in the screening coverage of 0.60% (0.4–0.8). Endowment and coefficient contributed to 88.15% and 11.85% of the disparities. Compositional changes were contributed majorly by regional differences, low education, scheduled tribes, and having living children > 2. Higher odds of having screening were associated with older age (AOR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.03–1.28), higher education (1.32; 1.13–1.55), higher age of first intercourse (1.60; 1.43–1.79), married (1.25; 1.08–1.45) and diabetic (1.39; 1.17–1.65) women, and those from South India (6.76; 5.90–7.75). The odds were lower among Muslims, scheduled tribes and participants using hormonal contraceptives. Conclusion: There are significant urban-rural disparities in cervical cancer screening uptake that can be attributed to regional variation, educational inequalities, tribal groups, socio-economic inequalities and parity, necessitating the need to comprehensively design tailor-made advocacy initiatives and simultaneously address the broader determinants of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dyslipidaemia is an important risk factor for coronary artery disease. Oxidative damage to plasma lipoproteins ultimately results in the development of atherosclerosis. Since Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) is a cytoprotective molecule in oxidative stress, decreased H2S levels may be a cause of dyslipidaemia. Aim: To determine the relationship between the serum levels of H2S with serum Triglycerides (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), and High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) in cases of dyslipidaemia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2022 and June 2023 in the Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine at KPC Medical College, Jadavpur, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Serum lipid profile {TC, TGs, HDL-C, and Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) (calculated by Friedewald’s equation)} and serum H2S were measured in 70 cases of dyslipidaemia {according to National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria} aged between 30 to 80 years and compared with an equal number of healthy volunteers as controls. The means of continuous variables were compared by independent t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. The Chi-square test was applied to compare gender distribution. Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated for normal and non normal distributions, respectively. Results: The mean age of dyslipidaemic patients (54.54 years±11.19) was significantly (p=0.0017) higher than that of the controls (47.02 years±16.18). Among the 70 cases of dyslipidaemia, 38 participants were male and 32 were female, while among the healthy controls (n=70), 42 participants were male and 28 were female. The serum H2S levels in cases of dyslipidaemia (37.91±6.28 μmol/L) were significantly lower than in the healthy controls (58.52±12.92, p<0.01 μmol/L). A significant positive correlation was found between serum H2S levels and HDL-cholesterol (r=0.81, p<0.001), whereas a negative correlation was found between serum H2S and TG levels (r=-0.55, p<0.001). Conclusion: In the present study, dyslipidaemia was associated with decreased levels of serum H2S . Serum H2S was positively correlated with serum HDL and negatively correlated with serum TG levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Metastases to the submandibular gland (SMG) from oral cavity primaries are very rare. Hence, a gland-preserving level IB dissection technique is a feasible option without compromising the lymph node yield (LNY). Objective: To assess the feasibility and noninferiority of the SMG-preserving dissection technique to the conventional en bloc removal of level IB in terms of LNY in patients with cN0 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) undergoing elective neck dissection. Design: Parallel-design, single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Tertiary care health care center—Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, AIIMS Rishikesh. Participants: Thirty-eight (n = 38) participants with 46 (n = 46) neck dissection specimens of OSCC were randomly allocated (1:1) into gland-preserving (n1 = 23) and en bloc (n2 = 23) dissection groups. Intervention: Elective neck dissection comparing SMG-sparing level IB dissection technique versus en bloc level IB dissection. Main Outcome Measures: LNY, lymph node density, and level IB operative time in both groups were compared between groups (α <.05). Results: Median LNY (P =.543) and lymph node density (P = 1.000) in level IB did not show significant differences between the groups. LNY in level IB by gland-preserving technique is also not inferior to the conventional en bloc dissection technique (mean difference = 0.217; 95% CI: [−0.597, 1.032]; P =.593). The mean level IB operative time is significantly longer in the gland-preserving group (P <.001). Conclusions and Relevance: None of the examined SMGs were involved by the tumor. SMG-preserving technique is noninferior to the traditional technique of level IB clearance and can be used in elective neck dissections without compromising the LNY. Functional neck dissection has greatly evolved to decrease patient morbidity, and this method can be adopted in case-specific situations. Trial registration: The trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Registry—India (CTRI/2022/05/042344) on May 2, 2023, https://ctri.nic.in/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive airway disease (OAD) causes significant morbidity and healthcare expenses. Smoking cessation, drug therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation reduce morbidity and improve outcomes. However, each strategy requires knowledge, positivity, adherence, compliance, and technique to improve OAD clinical outcomes. Aim and objective: To assess the knowledge and attitude of OAD patients and to evaluate their medication adherence in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: A north Indian tertiary care hospital conducted this six-month prospective, observational, questionnaire-based investigation. Subjects were asked questions on their disease knowledge, attitude, and drug adherence. Results: 152 patients were analyzed for this study. Here, 80 (51.9%) patients were male and 74(48.1%) were female. Among the subjects, 46.9% (n=72, p=0.0001) have adequate knowledge about their treatment and ailment. Out of the total patients, 71.2% (n=110, p=0.007) have an optimistic attitude towards their treatment, while 42.5% (n=65) of patients adhere to their therapy. Conclusion: OAD patients have low drug adherence. Simplified treatment regimens, self-management education, and provider abilities in patient education, communication, and adherence counseling can solve shortcomings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The invisibility of the transgender population within official records, combined with other socio‐economic factors, impacts oral health status among transgender people. Hence, our systematic review and meta‐analysis aim to generate a pooled estimate of the oral health status of the transgender community in India. Material and methods: A systematic search was performed across four databases. The studies included a quantitative research design conducted in India and involved self‐identified transgender individuals. The pooled prevalence was determined at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Q‐statistics and the I2 test were utilized to evaluate the source of heterogeneity. Leave‐one‐out analysis and Baujat plots were used to detect outliers within the studies. A Doi plot and LFK index were employed to assess the publication bias. Results: A total of 12 studies comprising 1566 transgender participants were included. The pooled prevalence of toothbrush use among transgenders in India was found at 83% (95% CI: 0.73–0.91), smoking = 12% (CI: 0.03–0.26), smokeless tobacco = 53% (CI = 0.38–0.68), dental caries = 78% (CI: 67%–88%), calculus = 65% (CI: 0.4–0.86), and bleeding 18% (CI:0.08–0.32). Conclusion: Oral health disparities among Indian transgender individuals are evident in the low toothbrush usage, an elevated prevalence of tobacco use, and dental disorders such as calculus, cavities, and bleeding. Tailored dental health programs that include inclusive healthcare services and awareness are essential. Prospero registration: CRD42023468872 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper aimed to explore the palliative care (PC) needs and barriers to access among cancer patients in a rural region of North India with a high cancer burden. Methods: A Participatory action research (PAR) approach was employed. Situational assessment, community sensitization workshops (CSWs) and door-to-door surveys were planned, conducted and developed over three PAR cycles. A parallel convergent mixed-methods approach was adopted wherein the quantitative data from door-to-door surveys and qualitative data from CSWs and investigator field notes were collected and analyzed to provide a comprehensive understanding of PC needs and barriers to access. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used. Results: A total of 27 CSWs involving 526 stakeholders were conducted. A total of 256 cancer patients were assessed for PC needs and symptom burden using the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators (SPICT-4ALL) and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) tool, respectively. Based on the SPICT assessment, all patients (n = 256) satisfied general and/or cancer-specific indicators for PC. The majority (56.6%) had ≥ one moderate-severe symptom, with the most common symptoms being tiredness, pain and loss of appetite. Analysis of qualitative findings generated three themes: unmet needs, burden of caregiving, and barriers and challenges. Cancer affected all domains of patients' and their families' lives, contributing to biopsychosocial suffering. Social stigma, discrimination, sympathizing attitudes and lack of emotional and material support contributed to psychosocial suffering among cancer patients and their caregivers. Lack of awareness, nearby healthcare facilities, transportation, essential medicines, trained manpower and education in PC, collusion, fear of social discrimination, faulty perceptions and misconceptions about cancer made access to PC difficult. Conclusions: The study emphasize the need for and provide a roadmap for developing context-specific and culturally appropriate CBPC services to address the identified challenges and needs. The findings point towards education of CHWs in PC; improving community awareness about cancer, PC, government support schemes; ensuring an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines; and developing active linkages within the community and with NGOs to address the financial, transportation, educational, vocational and other social needs as some of the strategies to ensure holistic CBPC services. Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2023/04/051357). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of using sentiment analysis in various aspects of study and research has been increasing significantly across the globe. By utilising the benefits of the same, an extensive study has been proposed on the diversity of sentiments of Indian users about ChatGPT through the data gathered from Twitter. The purpose of this study is to understand the perspectives of early users and identify the major topics of discussion regarding ChatGPT in India specifically. To achieve the same, 27,275 tweets has been segregated from pre-existing Kaggle dataset which encompasses several tweets containing the hashtag 'ChatGPT' by the twitter users across the world, covering from the launch date i.e. 30th November, 2022 till 24th February, 2023. In order to understand them, topic classification has been performed using Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA). Sentiment analysis has been conducted using three techniques VADER, ROBERTA and TEXTBLOB, through which the dataset is labelled. Further, five different classifiers have been applied on the dataset named as: Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine (SVM), KNearest Neighbors (KNN), XGBoost Classifier and Decision Tree, to get the performance parameters. According to the results, Logistic Regression classifier with GridSearchCV has the highest accuracy of 86.52% using Count Vectorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods of sowing have many disadvantages like no uniformity in seed to seed placement, require greater number of seed, require more time and labour for operation. Most of the farmers in India are small and marginal land holder hence, tractor drawn planter have been eliminated acceptability. Also, to reduce dependency on fossil fuel in current situation need to concentrate on EVs in agricultural in order to boost productivity, achieve energy independence. In view of above developed battery operated multi-crop planter was tested for laboratory performance. The vertical rotor cell type seed metering mechanism was used in multi-crop planter. Testing of multi-crop planter was carried at Department of Farm Power and Machinery, Dr. PDKV, Akola by using sticky belt setup. In laboratory trial calibration of planter for cotton seed rate, miss index, multiple indexes, quality feed index, uniformity index was determined. The experimental optimization of parameters was done by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Three levels of forward speed are 2 km/h, 2.5 km/h, 3 km/h and three level of sub-hopper opening 50%, 75%, 100% were chosen for laboratory trial. The RSM results showed that planter optimized with forward speed 3 km/h and 75% sub-hopper opening for cotton seed. Based on the analysis it is observed that as the forward speed increased from 2 km/h to 3 km/h and sub-hopper opening from 50% to 100%. The quality feed index and uniformity index was increased up to certain level and then gradually decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite India's status as the foremost fenugreek producer, the multitude of varieties it has generated has become obsolete over time, attributed to diminished performance, a decline in genetic diversity and reduced stability. This study focuses on assessing diversity and variability as well as exploring Genotype by Environment (G×E) interaction in fenugreek genotypes cultivated in the Kymore Plateau and Satpura Hill Agroclimatic region of Madhya Pradesh, India. Conducted from 2018 to 2021, the research involved 17 fenugreek germplasms under the AICRP on Spices initiative. Phenotypic data, encompassing plant height, flowering days, branches plant1, pods plant1, pod length and seed yield plant 1 were collected. The principal Component 1 (PC1) emerges as the main contributor, capturing a substantial 61.291% of the total dataset variance. PC1's impact is underscored by highest positive loadings for days to first flowering, plant height, and pod length, collectively contributing to 61.291% of the variance. The PCA biplot illustrates distinctive genotype distributions, with MDM 120, RM 201, KFG-1 and UM-411 exhibiting heightened variability. Conversely, genotypes like Hisar Sonali and JFG-2013-18 show limited variability. Hierarchical clustering analysis, utilizing the "complete" method, forms two clusters, with RM-196 and RM-201 in Cluster I and the remaining genotypes in Cluster II. UPGMA clustering forms three clusters, with RM-201 exclusively in Cluster I and distinct genotypes in Clusters II and III. Both clustering methods align with PCA biplot analysis, emphasizing extensive diversity in the RM-201 genotype. The findings of the AMMI and GGE biplot analyses highlight the significant influence of genotype, environment, and their interaction on all traits (P < 0.05). AMMI analysis identified MDM 120, IFGS-11, Hisar Sonali, NDM 80, HM 355 and JFG-2013-16 as stable genotypes, with MDM-120 ranked as the most stable (ASV < 1). Integrating insights from AMMI, ASV and GGE biplot models, the study concludes that MDM 120, IFGS-11 and Hisar Sonali are prominent stable genotypes among the 17 considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drones can gather real-time data cost-effectively and deliver payloads, and they have initiated the rapid evolution of many healthcare sectors. Drones are used to surveillance disaster sites and areas with biological hazards and in epidemiology for research and tracking disease spread. This technology is efficiently employed for rapid blood and blood product delivery for better maternal care. Telecommunication drones are used for diagnosis and treatment, perioperative evaluation and telementoring in remote areas. Drones have the potential to be reliable medical delivery platforms for microbiological and laboratory samples, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, emergency medical equipment and patient transport. Government agencies have placed drone use on the national agenda. The following steps include aggressive research initiatives in safety, industry expansion, increased public awareness and participation. The purpose of this article is to document the utilisation of drone technology in India compared to outside India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For a dentist, it is a matter of concern to restore the original luster or glaze on a Monolithic Zirconia (MZ) restoration after clinical adjustments. For a long time, the gold standard for surface restoration was reglazing; however, with advancements in technology, new polishing kits optimised for zirconia have become available for chairside polishing. Aim: To examine the effects of grinding, reglazing, and polishing techniques on the surface roughness and flexural strength of MZ specimens. Materials and Methods: This in-vitro study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics at MM College of Dental Sceiences and Research in Mullana, Haryana, India from April to December 2019 and 32 specimens of MZ, each measuring 20 mm × 5 mm × 3 mm, were fabricated and divided into four groups, with each group consisting of eight specimens. Group C was considered the Control group. Specimens in Group G were only Ground, specimens in Group GR were Ground and Reglazed, and specimens in Group GP were Ground and Polished using a zirconia polishing kit. All specimens were then analysed for surface roughness and flexural strength using a profilometer and a Universal Testing Machine (UTM), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Honest Significant Test (HSD) post-hoc test, Pearson's correlation, and other methods using International Business Machine (IBM) Statistics version 25.0 (Armonk, USA). Results: The surface roughness (Ra) of the control group (C) was 0.4403 μm, followed by the Polished Group (GP) at 0.656 µm and the Reglazed Group (GR) at 0.809 μm. The difference between the polished (GP) and reglazed (GR) groups, was statistically insignificant (p=0.53). There was a statistically significant increase in flexural strength in the reglazed samples (GR) when compared to the polished samples (GP). No significant correlation (p=0.58 and r=-0.1) was found between surface roughness and flexural strength. Conclusion: Chairside polishing can be an effective alternative to reglazing for restoring the surface finish of MZ. Additionally, polishing increases the strength of zirconia after adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A patient's life is profoundly impacted by both receiving a cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment. Following surgical therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma, a basic deterioration in quality of life occurs as a result of limited functions and overall well-being in the early postoperative stages. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate whether comprehensive nursing interventions improve the quality of life after oral cancer surgery or not. Methodology: In this study, 260 patients with oral cancer who were cognitively normal and had undergone surgery within 2022-2024 were enrolled. The study group was divided into experimental and control groups. Following the nursing intervention, each patient completed the Head and Neck Cancer Quality of Life Scale, a demographic questionnaire from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30). Results: Among the sociodemographic variables, there was a statistically significant difference in terms of cancer stage (p<0.03). The experimental group experienced a significant increase in their quality of life (p<0.01) compared to the control group. There were significant improvements in the mean quality of life scores in nearly each domain compared to the control group. Conclusions: In summary, the overall nursing intervention following oral cancer surgery is successful in reducing the patient's emotional burden, pain level, and risk of complications while also improving the patient's quality of life. It is recommended because it can enhance patients' appreciation of nursing care and serve as a great clinical nursing solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadotrophin axis, estrogen plays a key role in the regulation of bone maturation and growth plate closure. This study was designed to explore the link between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) gene with idiopathic short stature (ISS) susceptibility in a North Indian population. Methods: Four SNPs of ESR1 (rs543650, rs6557177, rs2234693 and rs9340799) were genotyped by Sanger sequencing in ISS patients and controls. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotyping were done by SNPStat and SHEsisPlus software. The extent of LD was determined by calculating D' and R2 values in SNP paired combinations. Results: Fifty-two ISS patients were compared with 68 controls. A significant positive association was found between rs6557177 and rs543650 genotype and ISS susceptibility. The frequencies of the rs6557177 CC genotype [p=0.030; odds ratio (OR)=0.13; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-1.10] and rs543650 genotype TT (p=0.043; OR=0.29; 95% CI: 0.09-0.92) were increased in the ISS group compared with controls. However, no significant correlation was observed between clinical parameters of patients and these SNPs. rs543650 showed strong LD with rs2234693 and rs9340799, similarly rs2234693 and rs9340799. Conclusion: Our study showed that the CC genotype at rs6557177 and TT genotype at rs543650 of ESR1 constituted a risk factor for developing ISS in North Indian children. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the SNPs associated with ISS susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The locational disadvantage of a health-care centre often restricts adequate delivery of health-care services in an area. The purpose of this study is to examine the status of primary health-care services in such a geographically disadvantageous area which is confined by forests, tea gardens and undulating topography. Design/methodology/approach: Necessary secondary data of 13 primary health centres and 236 sub-centres has been collected from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health. Based on obtained data, Health-care Infrastructure Index has been prepared which has been validated by an expert panel, and subsequently, the Thiessen Polygon method has been applied through Arc GIS software to show spatial variation of health-care services delivered by different health-care centres. Findings: In the study area, there is wide variation found in the case of physical facilities, caregivers and connectivity of road networks, which altogether affect the overall status of health-care services. Among all the indicators, some health-care centres experience staff shortages for prolonged non-recruitment, inaccessibility and inconsistent patient load in different health centres. Originality/value: In spite of the unfavourable geographical landscape, health-care centres have to be set up wherever possible. There is a need to make new roads and simultaneously the existing road connectivity should be improved so that patients and caregivers can move quickly whenever required. Existing physical facilities need to be renewed or redeveloped along with increasing the number of doctors and other health-care providers as per the need of people with an adequate and optimum level of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study extensively explores the agricultural innovation landscape of Indian public agricultural research organizations, emphasizing technological focus from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutions and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs). The findings reveal diverse concentrations of patents in agricultural engineering, chemical processes and formulations, biotechnology and food categories. The prominent themes that emerged from the patent landscape include livestock health management, animal feed, chemical formulations, agricultural machinery and aquaculture practices. However, the temporal shifts indicate an increased focus from biotechnology to food, chemical and engineering during the last three decades. Patent statistics indicate variations in technology scope, claims, inventor size and renewal term. SAUs had comparatively broader technology scope, shorter grant lag and a higher number of claims than the ICAR patents. On the other hand, inventor size and renewal term were significantly higher in the ICAR patents. Survival functions demonstrate more longevity for the ICAR patents, with evolving dynamics in patent value over different periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At a regional scale, decision-making in water resources management is based on the analysis of long-term, continuous observations of hydrometeorological variables including streamflow. Quite often, constraints such as paucity of observed flow data hinder scientific planning in ungauged watersheds of developing countries. In this context, we present an improved framework for predicting streamflow data in an ungauged tropical watershed (Jambhira) in eastern India utilizing coupled data analytics and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for flow regionalization. In this study, the choice of different dimensionality reduction methods such as principal components analysis (PCA) and Isomap during the clustering stage, as well as the choice of inverse distance weighting (IDW) and physical similarity (PS) approaches for regionalization of SWAT model parameters for the ungauged watershed, are investigated. As a novel aspect, in this case study, we included certain seasonal climate characteristics and changed land-use composition of the study watersheds as pertinent features for clustering of homogeneous watersheds. The proposed framework is then evaluated for its possible limitations, namely, whether the integrated approaches yield the best estimates of hydrological model parameters for ungauged watersheds, and if they guarantee good performance across different flow regimes. The regionalization results for the pseudoungauged watershed (Govindpur, India) indicate that coupled PS-SWAT approach is the most efficient with R2 and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values ranging from 0.75 to 0.83 and from 0.74 to 0.77, respectively. The hydrological model of the ungauged watershed (Jambhira) is developed using the regionalization framework, and using the simulated flows, flow duration curve (FDC) analysis is also performed. Analysis of regime-based flow characteristics reveals a declining trend in the magnitude of low and high flows by 4% and 22.2%, respectively, in Jambhira. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction One of the most important aspects of happiness is one's health. Increased industrialization in developing nations has contributed to a change in disease patterns away from infectious illness as the major cause of morbidity and mortality toward chronic diseases such as heart disease and trauma. Most emergency circumstances need immediate medical attention before a person is taken to the hospital; therefore, public awareness and training programs can aid in providing efficient basic life support care and services. Only a few works of literature on basic life support and prehospital emergency care in an Indian context are available and are usually studied among school teachers. However, no comparable research including allied health experts such as speech and hearing professionals has yet been published in the literature. Aim The present study aimed at exploring the awareness of speech and hearing professionals regarding basic life support in an Indian context. Methods The questionnaire consisted of two sections where section A comprised 6 questions related to demographic details and participant's experience, and section B composed of 17 questions related to knowledge of normal bodily physiology, medical emergencies, and first aid and related aspects. A cross-sectional exploratory study design was conducted on 250 participants. Out of 250 responses, 42 of them were incomplete and so were removed from the study. Therefore, a total of 208 complete responses received from the participants in the age range of 22 to 60 years from across 23 states and 1 union territory of India were included in the study. Results The result revealed a low percentage of speech and hearing professionals with an adequate understanding of basic life support. The majority of them were found to have insufficient knowledge of normal bodily physiology, medical emergencies, and first aid and related aspects. Discussion Being the first of its kind, the present study revealed limited awareness about basic life support among professionals, and therefore, the need to improvise the knowledge of basic life support and prehospital emergency care. This may be achieved by introducing training programs of various natures and dimensions to speech and hearing professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the antioxidant, cytotoxicity activities, and phytochemical profiling of O. stellata extracts. Qualitative phytochemical tests showed the presence of different groups of phytochemicals, mainly in polar solvents. Methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts showed high total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The antioxidant activity was determined by using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), metal chelating, and reducing power assay where methanolic (IC50: 24.76 ± 2.78 μg/mL), hydroalcoholic (IC50: 29.59 ± 3.44 μg/mL), and aqueous (IC50: 33.72 ± 1.97 μg/mL) extracts showed significantly antioxidant potential. Significant cytotoxicity activity was observed in the methanolic extract. As methanolic extract showed better activities, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of methanolic extract identified 41 bioactive compounds, where 17 major compounds had medicinal value. High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) bioassay-guided assay combined with Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATRFTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy characterized gallic and caffeic acid as free radical scavengers. This study evidences that the methanolic extract of O. stellata has potent antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, which may render oxidative stress-related disease and may be used for drug development for human health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mortality in the case of ovarian malignancy is high due to late diagnosis. Early and accurate diagnosis can improve case-specific management. Paired-box gene 8 (PAX8) has proved to be expressed in the ovarian epithelial cells and is considered a new biomarker for early diagnosis. Case–control studies show that the level of PAX8 in the serum and tissue expressions are positively correlated and increased in ovarian malignancy, especially in the high-grade serous type, the most common variety of ovarian malignancies. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological spectrum of ovarian neoplastic lesions and a comparative study of conventional cytology and a cellblock of ascitic fluid and subsequent PAX8 immunohistochemistry (IHC) expression to diagnose ovarian neoplasm. Materials and Methods: We collected clinical data from participants using a predesigned pro forma. We made a cytological diagnosis using conventional cytology, followed by cellblock preparation and subsequent assessment of PAX8 IHC expression. Ascitic fluid received for cellblock was centrifuged, tissue sediment was mixed with plasma, and then drops of thrombin were added. We fixed the clotted sample by adding 10% formalin for 30 min. The formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cellblocks were sliced into 4–5 μ sections and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Subsequently, we used an immunohistochemical stain for PAX8 expression to diagnose ovarian malignancy. Results: We received 55 ascitic fluid samples. On cytological smear examination, 12 (21.8%) cases were benign, 35 (63.6%) were malignant, and the remaining 8 (14.6%) were suspicious of malignancy. On histological examination of cellblock preparation, 43 (78.2%) were malignant cases, and among these 43 cases of cellblocks studied, 37 were positive for PAX8 status; six were negative for PAX8. There was a statistically significant association between malignant cell positivity and PAX8 status in the cellblock (P < 0.001). Conclusion: An evaluation of PAX8 status in ascitic fluid cellblock study should be considered for high-grade ovarian cancers in patients who may benefit from targeted therapies. Patients with ovarian mass and ascites can be evaluated for PAX8 status in their ascitic fluid cytology study for the purpose of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Surgery has a negative effect on the mental, physical, and functional health of patients with oral cancer, which affects their quality of life (QOL). The study aimed to assess the effect of comprehensive nursing intervention on anxiety and QOL in postoperative patients with oral cancer. Methods: We investigated the level of anxiety and QOL of 200 postoperative oral cancer patients. After the comprehensive nursing intervention, the Beck Anxiety Inventory scale and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer tools were used to assess the level of anxiety and QOL, respectively. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in terms of educational status (p=0.02), monthly income (p<0.01), cancer stage (p<0.01), and tumor metastasis (p=0.02). The experimental group experienced a significant decrease in anxiety (p=0.04), and their QOL was significantly higher (p=0.05) than that of the control group. Conclusion: Our study indicates that a comprehensive nursing intervention can lower the risk of surgical complications, enhance patients' psychological state by reducing anxiety, and enhance their QOL in patients with oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary Dysmenorrhoea (PD) is a common disorder in both young and adult females which is characterised by cramps that start immediately before or at the beginning of menstruation in the lower abdomen and are spasmodic and painful in nature, without any pelvic pathology. PD has a serious detrimental effect on quality of life and productivity in terms of health. Need of the Study: To the best of author's knowledge, there is no specific scale meant to extensively assess the overall physical, social, psychological and nutritional status of females with PD and evaluate the quality of life, therefore, a comprehensive tool is required to resolve these issues and capture a comprehensive overview of the typical distress encountered during menstruation. Aim: To develop the items and domains, estimate its content and concurrent validity as well as assess intra-rater and testretest reliability of the scale, which comprehensively assesses physical, social, psychological and nutritional status of females with PD and determine their quality of life. Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study, that will be conducted at General Outpatient Department (OPD), Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Maharishi Markandeshwar Deemed to be University, Mullana, Ambala, Haryana, India from April 2023 to March 2024. It consists of three phases. First phase comprises of the scale development procedure which includes generation of domains and items. Second phase is to validate the scale. This phase includes content validation through Delphi method as well as evaluation of criterion (concurrent) validity. Third phase consists of assessing intra-rater and testretest reliability of the scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Western countries, speech recognition-based technologies have significantly developed compared to the countries of the South Asian subcontinent like India. India is a multilingual country (22 scheduled languages) with over 1.3 Billion population of which a major percentage faces difficulty with the user interface of different technological advancements and therefore speech recognition tools are very useful. In this paper, we propose LIFA: Language Identification From Audio - a fully automated tool that can identify the spoken language (phrases/words) and invoke the language-specific recognition engine. Experiments were performed on more than 2200 hours of data from the top-11 spoken languages in India. The clips were parameterized with a novel linear predictive cepstral coefficient (LPCC)-based features, which we call LPCC-Grade (LPCC-G). The proposed feature is capable of focusing on the distribution of energy across different frequency ranges in an audio clip for better classification while avoiding high dimensionality issues. Using a random forest-based classifier, we achieved the highest accuracy of 99.01%. Further, we tested the robustness of the system with different noisy scenarios on multiple datasets wherein accuracies in the range of 79%-98% were obtained. We also studied other popular existing features in our comparison where accuracies of 96.37 % and 92.48 % were obtained for LSF and MFCC-based features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Healthcare Workers (HCWs) are at a high-risk of acquiring Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. However, this risk can be prevented through Hepatitis B vaccination. In some institutes, HCWs have a lower percentage of HBV vaccination, leading to a higher risk of HBV transmission. Therefore, the coverage of vaccination is an important point, along with the evaluation of protective immune status. Aim: To assess the vaccination coverage and evaluate the immune response post-vaccination through Anti-Hepatitis B surface Antibodies (Anti-HBs) titre. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Government Medical College, Pali, Rajasthan, India, over a period of one year from April 2021 to March 2022, following approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC). A total of 455 HCWs below 60 years of age were included in the study, and their demographic details such as age, gender, occupation, needle stick injury, blood exposure to mucous membranes and breached skin, hepatitis B vaccination status, and time duration since vaccination were noted. Additionally, their Anti-HBs titer was examined. The participants were initially classified into three groups: completely vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and non vaccinated. Among those who were vaccinated, they were further divided into two groups: vaccination ≤5 years (Group A) and >5 years (Group B). Furthermore, those who received a booster dose were divided into Group I (≤1 year) and Group II (>1 year). Blood samples were collected to assess the anti-HBs levels quantitatively in the sera using Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The data was entered into Microsoft Excel and later imported into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 for statistical analysis. Results: Participants had a mean age of 29.65±9.603 years. Among them, 43 (30.1%) were doctors, and 37 (25.9%) were medical students who were found to be completely vaccinated. On the other hand, among other HCWs, 15 (10.5%) were nurses, 16 (11.2%) were nursing students, and 32 (22.4%) were lab technicians who were vaccinated. None of the support staff were vaccinated (p-value=0.0001). A total of 143 participants were completely vaccinated, and 97.9% (n=140) had protective immunity to Hepatitis B. The anti-Hbs titre was 567.32±434.494 in group A and 265.74± 211.80 in group B (p-value=0.0001). Similarly, it was 688.34±424.617 in group I and 221.14±141.221 in group II (p-value <0.0001).The anti-Hbs titre did not significantly increase among the partially vaccinated participants (n=162). It was found to be 25.47±27.595 in group A and 14.60±19.939 in group B (p-value=0.004). There was no significant difference in the results between males and females (p-value=0.961). Conclusion: The coverage of complete vaccination among HCWs was significantly low, which is crucial for obtaining a protective Anti-Hbs titre. Incomplete vaccination does not result in a sufficient level of anti-Hbs titre, and there may be a significant decline in the immune response over time (p-value <0.05). Therefore, it is essential to estimate the titre after 1-2 months of complete vaccination to ensure that individuals are fully protected against Hepatitis B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, people with disabilities often struggle to access various opportunities and resources. As a result of perceptions within the Indian culture around disabilities, families may face social, financial, and emotional difficulties. Within the family, a child with a disability may lead to strained relationships, particularly with siblings. Often siblings have little knowledge about disabilities and may feel ostracised. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the knowledge and attitudes of 12 Indian children regarding their siblings with disabilities, including their perceptions about disabilities against the backdrop of societal attitudes. Participants were interviewed to understand their knowledge of their siblings' disabilities, to examine their sibling relationships, and to assess how school and society influenced their perceptions about disabilities. Results from this study can help family members understand how disability shapes relationships between children. The findings also provide key stakeholders with information that might help them better support families.

• Significant variation among the GWAS panel was recorded for all the traits • 143 MTAs associations were observed for all traits distributed on all chromosomes • Eleven stable QTLs were identified for number of seeds per plant and pods per plant • MLD was utilised to establish correlation between phenotypic traits to loci's Genome wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify loci associated with three agronomic traits namely seeds per pod, pods per plant and number of seeds per plant of horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum). Total 87 accesions of horsegram from different geographical regions of India and one wild relative from Australia were utilised for the genome wide association studies. The genotyping was carried out using genotype-by-sequencing technology and after high quality filtering, minor allele frequency of 0.05, a total of 55,656 quality SNPs were utilised for determining Marker-Trait Association. The LD decay varied across the chromosomes form 8 kb to 300 kb. Further, the population structure analysis has clustered the accession into three subpopulations. All the 88 accessions of horsegram were evaluated at Palampur (32.1109° N, 76.5363° E) and Bajaura (31.8465°N, 77.1605°E) locations of North-Western Himalayan region, India from. In the current study, 143 MTAs associations were observed for seeds per pod distributed on all 8 chromosomes, 2 for pods per plant at chromosomes 2 and 3 and 1 for number of seeds per plant at chromosome 7. However, total 11 stable QTLs (9 for number of seeds per plant and 2 for pods per plant) were also identified. These QTLs can serve as a potential source for marker assisted selection. The genes identified within and in proximity to the stable QTLs will serve as a bridge between genetic information and its practical application for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribal populations in India have health care challenges marked by limited access due to geographical distance, historical isolation, cultural differences, and low social stratification, and that result in weaker health indicators compared to the general population. During the pandemic, Tribal districts consistently reported lower COVID-19 vaccination coverage than non-Tribal districts. We assessed the MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (the project) strategy, which aimed to increase access to and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among Tribal populations in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance framework. We designed a qualitative explanatory case study and conducted 90 focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with Tribal populations, community-based nongovernmental organizations that worked with district health authorities to implement the interventions, and other stakeholders such as government and community groups. The active involvement of community leaders, targeted counseling, community gatherings, and door-to-door visits appeared to increase vaccine awareness and assuage concerns about its safety and efficacy. Key adaptations such as conducting evening vaccine awareness activities, holding vaccine sessions at flexible times and sites, and modifying messaging for booster doses appeared to encourage vaccine uptake among Tribal populations. While we used project resources to mitigate financial and supply constraints where they arose, sustaining long-term uptake of project interventions appears dependent on continued funding and ongoing political support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA) are present in one-third of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, and they are associated with both criteria and non-criteria manifestations. We studied the prevalence, clinical associations, and impact on mortality of APLA in SLE patients from India. Among the Indian SLE inception cohort (INSPIRE), patients who had data on all five routinely performed APLAs [lupus anticoagulant (LA), IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) and anti-β2-glycoprotein I(β2GPI)] at enrolment were selected. Patients were divided into four categories based on the presence/absence of APLA associated manifestations and presence/absence of the APLA viz SLE-APS, SLE-APLA, SLE: events but no APLA, and SLE: no events, no APLA (reference group). 1035 SLE patients at least 1 APLA antibody was detected in 372 (35.9%). LA was present in 206 (19.9%), aCL in 126 (12.2%) and β2-GPI in 178 (17.2%). There were 88 thrombotic events in 83 patients (8.0%); 73 (82.9%) being arterial; APLA positivity was present in 37 (44.6%) [AOR 1.70 (1.054, 2.76)]. SLE-APS patients were younger and had higher mortality [AOR 4.11 (1.51, 11.3)], neuropsychiatric and hematologic disease. SLE-APLA also had a higher mortality rate [AOR 2.94 (1.06, 8.22)] than the reference group. The mortality was highest in the subset of patients with thrombotic events in the presence of APLA [AOR 7.67 (1.25, 46.9)]. The mere presence of APLA also conferred higher mortality even in the absence of thrombotic events [AOR 3.51 (1.43, 8.63)]. Hematologic manifestations (36.1%) were the most common non-criteria-manifestation. One-third of SLE patients have APLA and its presence is associated with non-criteria hematologic manifestations, arterial thrombosis and higher mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives A comparable performance between bulk-fill composites (BFCs) and progressively inserted conventional resin composite (CRC) has been observed in previous studies. However, a significant number of dental institutions in India continue to employ incremental techniques for RC restorations during preclinical studies. But as BFCs are gaining popularity, they may soon be a part of the curriculum for dental students. The aim of this study was to assess the microhardness and the polymerization efficiency of bulk-fill composites versus CRC in class II slot preparations restored by second-year dental students on ivorine mandibular first molar teeth with high-intensity (HI) and low-intensity (LI) light-curing units using the standard mesial slot preparation technique. Material and Methods Fifty preclinical dental students of second year of a dental college were recruited for the study on a voluntary basis. During their preclinical instructions, all participants were taught and made to practice the handling and curing techniques for two-surface RC restorations for 4 months. Each student was asked to perform four RC restorations: CRC-HI, CRC-LI, BFC-HI, and BFC LI. Assessment of microhardness was done using the Vickers microhardness (VMH) test. Statistical analysis One-way and multivariate analysis of variance and Bonferroni 's post hoc test tests were used for data analysis. Results The results showed a significant decrease in the VMH readings in the horizontal axis, progressing from the uppermost to the lowermost positions (p > 0.05). In all the examined groups, the VMH values at the deepest reading locations were found to be higher than 80% of the values observed at the occlusal surface reading locations. Statistically significant associations were seen between the RC type and the light source used in the VMH readings conducted (p > 0.05). However, no significant correlation was identified between the type of light source and the vertical VMH readings (p > 0.05). Conclusion Instructing dental students to place RC restorations using CRC or BFC materials together with both HI and LI light-curing protocols is safe and can be considered for preclinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rich and long-standing history of creative arts as an instrument for healing, growth, and self-expression, especially amongst children and youth, has been well-documented across time and cultures. Arts-based therapies within the mental health community have also garnered increasing support for positively contributing to the well-being of various groups and individuals. Therefore, this article further examines the use of arts-based therapy in an eight-session therapeutic group with children. Five children in the age range of 9–12 years met weekly for a course of two months at a child and adolescent mental health service in Delhi-NCR, India. Over the course of these 8 sessions, the individual and collective journey of the group members witnessed many ebbs and flows, eventually leading to a positive shift in the inter-group dynamics. In addition, various therapeutic gains were observed and reported for the group members, showing an increased sense of collaboration, confidence, and community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India experienced a growing burden of elderly population associated with both physical and mental health challenges. Among the mental health problems, dementia, depression, anxiety and sleep disorder are of significant concern. This present study investigates the association between the types of living arrangement and the mental health of elderly in India. Comparison has been done between empty nest and non-empty nest elderlies. Data from first wave of Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017–18) has been used. It is a nationally representative data which collected data from over 72,000 individuals aged 45 and above and their spouses irrespective of age. We used the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D) to measure depression while living arrangement was self-reported by the respondents. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to find significant association of the outcome and independent variables. Among the total elderlies, 11% were from empty nest single households, 20% were from empty nest couple households and others were from the non-empty households. At national level, 30% elderly suffered from depression. It was more among the elderly of empty nest single households (43%), compared to elderly of empty nest couple households (30%) and non-empty nest households (28%). Gender, socio economic status, self-rated health status, financial stability, place of residence plays a crucial role in the experience of depression among the elderlies. Results portray that household structure, especially living arrangement and familial support in old age can be associated with the overall health and wellbeing, more specifically depressive symptoms among the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study sociodemographic and clinical variables, including psychiatric co-morbidities, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Methods: A total of 158 patients attending a medical gastroenterology clinic in a tertiary care center in Northern India were screened, from whom 100 were selected for the study. Rome IV criteria were used to diagnose IBS, and the severity of symptoms was assessed by the Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS). Psychiatric co-morbidities were screened via clinical evaluation, and if present, a diagnosis was made as per DSM-5. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) were used to assess depression, anxiety, stress, and somatic symptoms. Result: The mean age of cases was 35.6 years' old, and the majority of cases (i.e., 38.0%) were between 18 and 29 years' old. Males comprised 62.0% of the sample and females 38.0%. Moderate IBS was present in 61.0% of the cases. Evaluation via DASS-21 revealed that 53.0% were in the moderate category of depression, 43.0% had moderate anxiety, and 36.0% had moderate stress. The somatic symptom scale revealed that 48.0% patients were in the high category. Psychiatric co-morbidities were present in 29.0% of cases. Depressive disorders were the most common psychiatric co-morbidity. Conclusions: Patients with IBS presenting to a tertiary care center in Northern India were primarily young males living in semi-urban areas who belonged to the Hindu religion, were married, and had a nuclear family. Patients with IBS commonly have associated psychiatric disorders; anxiety disorders and depression are most common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception, Ayurveda, India's ancient therapy science has been dealing with neurological disorders, but language has been another matter. Ayurveda as a consequence of Vata disease is treated with neurological illness. Vata dosha vitiation in the human system creates imbalance and disharmony which lead to neurological disorders. Ayurvedic treatment aims to correct this Vata imbalance and to harmonize Vata dosha and Kapha dosha in a manner which eliminates every aspect of an individual's disease. Panchakarma is a holistic model of health care, in which mind, body and spirit are given equal importance - a fact that is regarded as essential to existence. To achieve this objective, Panchakarma is the most effective and effective medical model. In this article, attempts have been made to explain the treatments of Panchkarma used for neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cutaneous Metastasis (CM) is the spread of malignant cells from a primary site of malignancy to the skin. The incidence of CM ranges from 0.5% to 9% of all patients with cancer. CM may be the first sign of clinically silent visceral cancer or can even be a clue to tumour recurrence and heralds a poor prognosis requiring intense chemoradiotherapy. Aim: To study the spectrum of CM of internal malignancies, including haematolymphoid neoplasms. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Pathology, Command Hospital Kolkata, West Bengal, India, over a period of two years from April 2020 to March 2022 and data was analysed over the next six months. A total of 16 patients who developed CM secondary to underlying solid organ or haematological malignancy were analysed. Categorical variables were summarised as percentages. Data in tables were presented as the frequency of variables (categories) or as absolute numbers. Results: The parameters studied included the primary site of malignancies, the frequency of various histological types at the primary site, and the common cutaneous metastatic regions. The mean patient age was 55.25 years (ranges 24-72 years) with no gender predilection (M:F=1:1). The most common primary cancer site was the kidney and the oral cavity 4 each (25%), followed by breast, lung, and haematolymphoid malignancy, 2 each (12.5%), and 1 each of thyroid and gallbladder (6.25%). The most common site of CM was the head, abdomen, and epigastric wall 07/16 each (43.75%). The majority of the CM were identified as adenocarcinoma on histopathology. Conclusion: The CM occurs rarely and can be the initial presentation of an occult internal malignancy or may suggest recurrence if diagnosed later. Renal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity are the tumours that have a high predisposition for CM, and hence these patients require close follow-up and surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study on the chalcidid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) reports 26 species belonging to 12 genera and four subfamilies from the state of Goa, India. Of these, 20 species and seven genera are newly recorded from Goa. An illustrated key, synonyms, brief description and habitus images are provided for all the species of Chalcididae found in Goa, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deciphering the population structure and variations of vector species is indispensable for effective disease management programs. The population genetic structure of a species is an attribute of its vector competence. In India, Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer, 1910 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) has recently been implicated in the transmission of BTV-1. We studied the genetic structure of C. oxystoma obtained from various physiographic regions of India and evaluated it based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit-1 (COX-1). Genetic similarity was assessed through median-joining networks based on haplotypes and FST analysis. Major findings reveal that the geographic clustering is aligned with the Palearctic-Indomalayan-Australian cluster which is distinct from the Senegal haplotypes. Pairwise FST showed significant genetic differentiation among the haplotypes of the Palearctic, Indomalayan, Australian and African regions except between China and Japan. Tests of neutrality illustrated an expanding population within the Indian subcontinent. Calculated values of coefficient of difference of morphological parameters across various physiographic regions suggest an absence of subspecies, which, however, requires further validation. In summary, our study indicates there is presence of gene flow in C. oxystoma across various physiographic regions of India. However, homogeneity in the population structure of this vector species, C. oxystoma, indicates that it poses a significant risk of outbreaks in multiple localities in a conducive environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Short stature homeobox (SHOX) haploinsufficiency underlies idiopathic short stature (ISS) and Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis. The worldwide prevalence of SHOX variations in ISS varies from 2.5% to 15.0%. The aim of this study was to assess the implication of SHOX variation in ISS in North Indians and compare this with other cases of SHOX variations from Asian population. Methods: SHOX gene analysis was carried out by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification followed by Sanger sequencing in 54 patients with variable phenotypes. Comparison with other reports in a meta-analysis comprising the current study and 11 previous studies (n=979) was performed. Results: SHOX analysis resulted in 12.9% positivity (7.4% deletions and 5.5% duplications). SHOX association was seen significantly related to gender, with predominance in females (p=0.047). Short arms and forearms were the only significantly associated trait seen in 51.9% of children. The overall prevalence of SHOX variation was 15.2% in Asians with ISS. No significant difference was found in geographical region-specific analysis. Conclusion: This study summarises findings from the last decade and provides an updated picture of the prevalence of SHOX variations in Asians, emphasizing their potential as therapeutic targets in ISS patients. Further high quality, large investigations including functional validation is warranted to validate this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Keiki Mehta body pressure (BP) valve is a glaucoma drainage device that works on the simple mechanism of body pressure. Purpose: To evaluate the short- to intermediate-term efficacy and safety of Keiki Mehta valve implantation in treating refractory glaucoma. Methods: This was a prospective, interventional, institution-based study. Adult patients (age >18 years) having refractory glaucoma who underwent Keiki Mehta valve implantation from May 2019 to December 2019 in a tertiary hospital in eastern India were followed up to 18 months. Results: Twenty patients (20 eyes) with refractory glaucoma who underwent Keiki Mehta valve implantation were followed up on postoperative day 1 and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), antiglaucoma medications, and success rate were measured at every visit. There was significant reduction in mean IOP from the preoperative values at every postoperative follow-up (P < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated a probability of 50% complete success and 20% qualified success at 18 months. Hypotony was the most common postoperative complication. Conclusion: Keiki Mehta valve implantation is an effective and safe treatment for refractory glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dedicator of cytokinesis protein 8 (DOCK8) deficiency is an autosomal recessive form of combined immunodeficiency. This rare disorder is characterized by an increased predisposition to allergy, autoimmunity and malignancies. Objectives To analyse clinical, immunological and molecular profiles of patients with DOCK8 deficiency. Methods Clinic records of all patients attending the primary immunodeficiency clinic from 2018 to 2021 were reviewed. Six patients from five families were found to have DOCK8 deficiency. Results Median age at diagnosis was 7.5 years (range 2–13), with a male/female ratio of 5 : 1. Among the six patients, recurrent eczematous skin lesions were the predominant cutaneous manifestation, present in five patients (83%). Warts and molluscum contagiosum were evident in two patients (33%) and one patient (16%), respectively. Two patients had recalcitrant prurigo nodularis lesions and two had epidermodysplasia verruciformis-like lesions. Food allergies and asthma were reported by one patient each. Of the six patients, recurrent sinopulmonary infections were detected in five (83%). Epstein–Barr virus-driven non-Hodgkin lymphoma with liver metastases was the only case of malignancy, in a 4-year-old boy. IgE was elevated in all patients. Lymphopenia and eosinophilia were observed in three patients (50%) and five patients (83.3%), respectively. Genetic analysis showed DOCK8 pathogenic variants in all patients: homozygous deletion mutations in two patients, compound heterozygous deletion mutations in one, and homozygous nonsense mutations in two. A novel pathogenic homozygous missense variant in the DOCK8 gene was identified in one patient. Conclusions DOCK8 deficiency should be considered as a possibility in any patient with early onset eczema, cutaneous viral infections and increased predisposition to allergy, autoimmunity and malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to evaluate soil loss within the Shilabati and Dwarkeswar River Basin of West Bengal, serving as a pilot investigation into soil erosion levels at ungauged stations during the post-monsoon season. Detailed data for temperature, precipitation, wind speed, solar radiation, and relative humidity for 2000–2022 were collected. A land use map, soil map, and slope map were prepared to execute the model. The model categorizes the watershed region into 19 sub-basins and 227 Hydrological Response Units (HRUs). A detailed study with regard to soil loss was carried out. A detailed examination of soil erosion patterns over four distinct time periods (2003–2007, 2007–2012, 2013–2017, and 2018–2022) indicated variability in soil loss severity across sub-basins. The years 2008–2012, characterized by lower precipitation, witnessed reduced soil erosion. Sub-basins 6, 16, 17, and 19 consistently faced substantial soil loss, while minimal erosion was observed in sub-basins 14 and 18. The absence of a definitive soil loss pattern highlights the region's susceptibility to climatic variables. Reduced soil erosion from 2018 to 2022 is attributed to diminished precipitation and subsequent lower discharge levels. The study emphasizes the intricate relationship between climatic factors and soil erosion dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Today's digital age, access to legal knowledge among students is crucial for fostering a well-informed citizenry. However, comprehending the intricacies of provisions of Indian Legal Acts, especially in a complex legal system like India's, can be daunting, even for seasoned professionals, let alone for educational purposes among children. To bridge this gap and foster legal literacy from a young age, we introduced a PDF-based Closed-domain Question-Answering (CDQA) System for Indian Legal Acts. Our system simplifies educating students about provisions of Indian Legal Acts such as RTI(Right to Education), RTE(Right to Education), Anti-Dowry Act, etc. By leveraging natural language processing(NLP) techniques and machine learning algorithms, our system, powered by LangChain, enables users to pose questions in natural language related to Indian Legal Acts. LangChain represents a groundbreaking advancement in question-answer systems, harnessing the power of cutting-edge language models to provide accurate and comprehensive responses to user queries. Developed based on state-of-the-art NLP techniques, LangChain is a versatile and highly adaptable tool that offers a versatile solution with transformative potential across diverse industries, including education, healthcare, legal research, customer support, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present competitive scenario, profit plays a major role in the survival and growth of every business enterprise in all sectors. Companies operating in the life insurance sector also face profitability contention with their rivals, especially among the private players who have entered the Indian market in a large number after the liberalization of the economy. The profitability of companies is affected by multiple factors which include firm-specific factors as well as external factors. In a competitive scenario, insurers having proper management of the controllable factors, i.e., the firm-specific factors may show better performance than others. Thus, the present paper tries to analyse the association of firm specific variables with the performance of life insurance companies operating in India. The impact of underwriting risk, company size, liquidity, volume of equity capital and tangibility on the performance of Indian life insurers have been analysed. A total of six life insurers operating in the Indian market have been taken as samples and annual statements for ten financial years, i.e., from 2010- 11 to 2019-20 have been used. Apart from basic descriptives, Correlation and Multiple Regression analysis have been used as statistical tools in the study. The findings reveal a positive relationship between Underwriting risk, Liquidity and Size of the company with profitability while Tangibility and Equity Capital have a negative relationship with profitability. Except for tangibility, the significant influence of all the firm-specific factors on the profitability of insurers has been observed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central India faced major dengue outbreaks in 2019 and 2021. In the present study, we aimed to identify the dengue virus serotypes and genotypes circulating in Central India during the COVID pre-pandemic year (2019) and ongoing-pandemic year (2021). For this purpose, the suspected cases were first tested by serological assays. Sero-positive samples were then subjected to molecular diagnosis by RT-PCR and semi-nested PCR. The serotypes obtained were confirmed by nucleotide sequencing. A phylogenetic analysis of serotypes was performed to identify the circulating genotypes. All four DENV serotypes were detected during 2019 and 2021, with the predominance of DENV2. Cases with multiple DENV serotype infections were also identified, involving DENV-2 in all the coinfections. Genotyping revealed that DENV-1 (Genotype V, American/African), DENV-2 (Genotype IV, Cosmopolitan), DENV-3 (Genotype III, Cosmopolitan), and DENV-4 (Genotype I) were involved during both outbreaks. DENV-2 detected in 2019 and 2021 has diverged from the previous strains detected in Central India (2016 and 2018), which may account for the higher transmission of DENV-2 during these outbreaks. The detection of heterologous DENV serotypes with high transmission efficiency calls for continuous viral monitoring and surveillance, which will contribute to a better understanding of changing viral dynamics and transmission patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the widespread prevalence of share pledging by Indian promoters, this area remains out of the researchers' purview. This study aims to bridge this research gap by delineating the impact of promoter share pledging on future stock price crash risk and financial performance in India. Design/methodology/approach: A sample of 257 companies listed on the Standard and Poor's Bombay Stock Exchange 500 (S&P BSE 500) Index has been analysed using panel (fixed-effects) data regression methodology over 2011–2020. Further, alternative proxies for crash risk and financial performance are adopted to ensure that the study's initial findings are robust. Finally, the instrumental variable with the two-stage least squares (IV-2SLS) method has also been employed to alleviate endogeneity concerns. Findings: The results suggest a significantly positive relationship between promoter share pledging and future stock price crash risk in India. Conversely, this association is significantly negative for future financial performance. Moreover, the results hold, even after including alternative proxies of stock price crash risk and financial performance and addressing endogeneity concerns. Originality/value: Owing to the sizeable equity shareholdings of the promoters, share pledging has remained a lucrative source of finance in India. Despite the popularity, the findings of this study question the relevance of share pledging by Indian promoters considering its impact on aggravating future stock price crash risk and deteriorating future financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground coal mine environment is hazardous and accident prone. The present work proposes an internet of things (IoT) based smart under- ground mine monitoring system at the excavation site. The developed system establishes a communication link to enable data transmission between underground smart devices and above the ground monitoring station. The smart device of the system includes sensors and sx1276 long range (LoRa) transceiver module. LoRa technology ensures through-the-Earth (TTE) wireless communication using 868 MHz frequency. The developed system monitors the concentration of methane (CH4) gas, carbon mono oxide (CO) gas, and the ambient condition of the mine environment. The sensor data collected is analyzed by the decision-making algorithm which has also been proposed in the work. The algorithm runs at the application server. The algorithm has been developed based on the mine environment safety index (MESI) designed by the authors. The data is available at the application server and can be monitored by the mine authorities. The developed system gives early warning of hazardous levels of gas concentration or uncomfortable values of temperature and humidity and can thus ensure a safe working environment. The system has been tested in an operational coal mine at Pandaveswar, Eastern Coalfield Limited, India. The testing has demonstrated the efficacy of the developed system and has proven that the developed system will be useful to initiate faster rescue operations in case of fatal accidents, if any. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the scope of services and challenges in implementing Time Bank in India. This community-based initiative allows people to exchange skills and services without the involvement of money. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured telephone interviews with 20 participants aged 18 to 35. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: Services, Challenges, and Limitations of Time Bank, Factors Affecting Help-Seeking Behavior, and Community and Gender Dynamics. Participants expressed interest in offering a wide range of services, from household tasks to professional services. However, challenges and limitations were also identified, such as a lack of awareness and understanding of the concept, social stigma, and concerns about trust, privacy, and safety issues. The study underscores the need to consider cultural and social factors while implementing community-based initiatives. Despite these challenges, participants believed Time Bank could be a valuable platform for building social connections and community support. The study's implications highlight the need for further research on the impact of Time Bank on social capital and the sustainability of the initiative in different cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) has significantly affected maize crop yields, production efficiency, and farmers' incomes in the Indian Eastern Gangetic Plains region since it was first observed in India in 2018. A lack of awareness by maize growers of the appropriate selection, method, and timing of insecticide application not only creates a barrier to sustainable FAW control but also contributes to increased environmental pollution, reduced human health and increased production costs. We demonstrated that FAW inflicted the most damage in early whorl growth stage of maize, regardless of whether chemical insecticides were applied. FAW egg masses and larvae collected from maize fields in which no insecticides had been sprayed showed high parasitism rates by parasitoid wasps; in contrast fields that had been sprayed had much lower rates of parasitism on FAW. Ten hymenopteran parasitoids were observed in maize fields across the study region, suggesting a diversity of natural methods to suppress FAW in maize at different growth stages. These included two FAW egg parasitoids and eight FAW larval parasitoids. Microplitis manilae Ashmead was the most abundant FAW larval parasitoid species, and Telenomus cf. remus was the dominant FAW egg parasitoid species. Endemic FAW parasitoids such as those observed in this study have great potential as part of a sustainable, cost-effective agroecological management strategy, which can be integrated with other methods to achieve effective control of FAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effect of preoperative vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine and cetrimide solution on postoperative infectious morbidity. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted over a period of 18 months in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. Women undergoing cesarean section were alternately allotted to study and control groups. Women with chorioamnionitis, antepartum hemorrhage, rupture of membranes for more than 24 h, and fever in the preoperative period were excluded. The study group received preoperative vaginal cleansing with antiseptic solution (7.5% chlorhexidine w/v and 15% cetrimide w/v); the control group did not receive vaginal cleansing. Both groups were followed for the presence of any infectious morbidity until they were discharged from the hospital. Results: Age, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters), gestational age, and the parity of the women in the study and control groups were comparable (n = 760). The rate of endometritis was lower in the study group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.054). Post‐cesarean febrile morbidity and wound sepsis were significantly lower in the study group (P = 0.017 and P = 0.02, respectively). On subgroup analysis, women in the study group with rupture of the membranes before cesarean delivery had lower wound sepsis and a reduced duration of hospital stay. Women in the study group with emergency cesarean delivery showed a significant reduction in wound sepsis, febrile morbidity, and length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Preoperative vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine and cetrimide solution before a cesarean section reduces postoperative infectious morbidity. Synopsis: A simple intervention of preoperative vaginal cleansing with chlorhexidine and cetrimide solution reduces postoperative infectious morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]